Effect of low-frequency electric stimulation on in vivo release of cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity in medial thalamus of conscious rat.
Release of cholecystokinin-like immunoreactivity (CCK-LI) in the medial thalamus of conscious rats was measured by brain dialysis and enzyme immunoassay. Analgesia caused by low-frequency electric stimulation of the tibial muscle, the tsusanli acupuncture point, was judged by change of pain threshold due to the stimulation. Medical thalamic CCK-LI released was increased by peripheral electric stimulations of both the acupuncture point and the non-acupuncture point. Results suggest that CCK acts as a neurotransmitter in the medial thalamus, a part of the analgesia inhibitory system.
Xu
M
M
Department of Life Chemistry, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Japan.
Aiuchi
T
T
Nakaya
K
K
Arakawa
H
H
Maeda
M
M
Tsuji
A
A
Kato
T
T
Takeshige
C
C
Nakamura
Y
Y
D015667:Acupuncture Analgesia; D000818:Animals; D002766:Cholecystokinin / Q000378:metabolism*; D003956:Dialysis; D015671:Electroacupuncture; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D013788:Thalamus / Q000378:metabolism*
D002766:Cholecystokinin